At some point a campaign can hit so hard, so fast, and so frequently that people begin to feel sorry for the beaten up opponent.

I’m afraid that may happen in the Texas GOP Gubernatorial Primary. But Kay Bailey Hutchison is just the gift that keeps on giving to the Perry team. Still, I’m getting a bit squeamish with so many punches thrown.

On the other hand, every punch has been legitimate. Every issue has been accurate. And Kay’s campaign would be doing the same thing, but they cannot get their act together. I’m actually a bit dumbfounded by the inability of the Hutchison campaign team to show a pulse. It’s like she hired Creigh Deeds’ campaign staff.

Time for a reorganization?

What’s all of this about? Well, the other day the United States Senate voted to cut off funding to ACORN. Kay Bailey Hutchison did not vote in the matter. Why? I hear she was at a fundraiser in Texas.

The website Washington Kay is having some fun at “Kaycorn’s” expense. And yes, Washington Kay is a project of the Rick Perry campaign, which is blessed with an aggressive and engaged campaign staff and a lifeless or hibernating opposition.

You can see the full sized flyer here.

Texans have an outstanding opportunity in the coming year to make a greater impact on the national stage than any other state.

Texas Railroad Commissioner Michael Williams, an African American who happens to be an outstanding, uncompromising conservative, will on the ballot for the United States Senate.

There are a number of good men running for the Senate in Texas, and most are varying degrees of conservative. But Michael Williams is set apart from the pack by being extraordinarily articulate, unyielding in his conservatism, unfailing in his ability to relate conservative ideals through an inspiring life story, and able to further set himself apart by virtue of being the rarest of political animals — an electable African American conservative Republican.

For years and years the media has resisted ever mentioning the fact that there are conservatives who are not white. It’s worked to the Democrats advantage. Now, in Florida, the media is confronted with Marco Rubio and in Texas with Michael Williams. If either were elected to the Senate, the media would have a much harder time ignoring that fact.

But, ignore Williams’ race. It is an added selling point to combat a media narrative, but Michael Williams is not defined by his race. He is defined by his conservatism. He is defined by his ability to connect with both small town America and a thriving urban industrial America. Through his life story, Michael Williams gets how liberalism has corroded America and how conservatism can transform America, making it shine ever more brightly on the Hill.

Texas, for its own good and the good of the whole country, should take a long hard look at Michael Williams and put him in the Senate. He’d be a fresh face and a fresh voice in a tired old boys club where folks go along to get along.

More importantly, Rick Perry, if he is truly a conservative’s conservative, has a chance to meaningfully impact American politics and the future of American conservatism by putting MIchael Williams in the Senate.

Kay Bailey Hutchison intends to resign. If Hutchison will go on and do it instead of dragging her heels, Perry could appoint Michael Williams to the Senate, automatically making Williams the front runner for next year. Perry and Hutchison, despite their clashes and opposing interests, should have the good of Texas and the country in common. They should make sure Michael Williams is Texas’ next United States Senator. And if not them? The good people of Texas should unfailingly support Commissioner Michael Williams.

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Diane Feinstein is notorious for supporting greater funding for China and cooperation with Chicom military authorities because, in part, her husband makes millions of dollars dealing with China.

It’s not just China. Feinstein has made out like a bandit from the Iraq War too.

As chairperson and ranking member of the Military Construction Appropriations subcommittee (MILCON) from 2001 through the end of 2005, Feinstein supervised the appropriation of billions of dollars a year for specific military construction projects. Two defense contractors whose interests were largely controlled by her husband, financier Richard C. Blum, benefited from decisions made by Feinstein as leader of this powerful subcommittee.

That’s what happens when you’ve been in the United States Senate for 17 years. Who else has been in the United States Senate for 17 years? Kay Bailey Hutchison. And guess what? Hutchison looks like she could be sending taxpayer dollars to her husband just as much as Diane Feinstein:

In 2007, U.S. Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison boasted how she helped secure $700 million in federal funding to expand a mass transit line in Dallas. But here’s what she forgot to tell you: The law firm of her husband, Ray Hutchison, worked on the bond financing for the same project, earning hundreds of thousands of dollars in hourly fees.

In the long run-up before Hutchison officially announced her candidacy for governor this week, the popular GOP lawmaker has fended off criticism that as a member of the Senate appropriations committee, she helped dole out money to her husband’s deep-pocketed municipal clients.

That may be how they do things in Washington after 17 years of living there, but that’s now how they do things in Texas. The Washington way is not the Texas way, but that’s all Kay knows and that’s why she needs to be defeated.

About the only campaign that comes close to the disaster that is Creigh Deeds’ campaign in Virginia is the craptacular spectacle of Kay Bailey Hutchison running her Texas gubernatorial primary.

The campaign has thus far been a disaster. Most recently, this morning, KBH showed up an hour late to her own kick off event.

Then, when she got there, she started bashing Rick Perry for being Governor for ten years. She said, “We need results, not politics. And that starts with term limits for Texas governor. For any governor, eight years is enough.”

The befuddling irony is that Kay Bailey Hutchison has been a United States Senator for seventeen years. Pot meet kettle.

Then of course, there is this:

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This weekend, 200 RedStaters gathered together in Atlanta to hear from real conservative leaders and candidates.

We were specific in our invitations — we wanted conservatives, not just Republicans. The message was phenomenal. The time shared was outstanding.

But now we have work to do. We cannot return to our former ways. We must commit to continuous activity on behalf of these outstanding men and women.

If you live in their area, help them. Volunteer. If you don’t live near them, consider opening your checkbook or pulling out your credit card.

We can take back the GOP. We can win on a message of small government. But we have to step up and help.

Each person listed below paid their own way to spend time with RedState activists in Atlanta. This was not a gathering for you to hear from them, but for them to hear from you. And they did hear from you.

Now let them hear from you again — volunteer, talk to your friends, donate, do whatever you can to help them in their elections.

• Rep. Roy Blunt (R-MO) Candidate for the United States Senate
• Former Congressman Pat Toomey (R-PA) Candidate for the United States Senate
• Sen. Jim DeMint (R-SC)
• Gov. Rick Perry (R-TX)
• Rep. Tom Price (R-GA) Chairman, Republican Study Committee
• Hon. Karen Handel (R-GA) Georgia’s Secretary of State & Candidate for Governor
• Liz Cheney (okay, she’s not a candidate, but she should be)
• Ken Cuccinelli (R-VA) Virginia State Senator & Candidate for Virginia Attorney General
• Michael Williams (R-TX) Texas Railroad Commissioner, Candidate for the United States Senate
• Marco Rubio (R-FL) Former Speaker of the Florida House of Representatives, Candidate for the United States Senate
• Ted Cruz (R-TX) Texas Solicitor General, Candidate for Texas Attorney General
• Nikki Haley (R-SC) Member, South Carolina House of Representatives, Candidate for Governor

Imagine a United States Senate with Michael Williams, Pat Toomey, and Marco Rubio. Imagine a Supreme Court hearing from Ken Cuccinelli and Ted Cruz on states’ rights. And imagine having two ladies like Karen Handel and Nikki Haley slashing goverment bugets and taxes from their respective Governors’ Mansions.

We can make all that a reality.

As you can tell, we’ve been away and busy at the RedState Gathering.

Liz Cheney spoke. She was amazing.

“America needs a commander in chief,” she said, ” not a global community organizer.”

Marco Rubio, Ted Cruz, Nikki Haley, Michael Williams, Ken Cuccinelli, Karen Handel, Tom Price, Pat Toomey, Roy Blunt, Jim DeMint, and Rick Perry all joined us in person or via video.

It was an amazing time. Stand by for lots of video and pictures.

I find some of the rhetoric going on between Senator Hutchison and Governor Perry to be already a bit harsh, so here are the bare bones of the story:

Hutchison told WBAP-AM (820) host Mark Davis that she would officially kick-off her campaign in August.

“Formal announcement: I am in. Then the actual leaving of the Senate will be sometime — October, November — that, in that time frame,” she said.

It was her most definitive statement yet that she would leave the Senate in the middle of her third term.

This being a Senate seat, there will be an appointment made by the Governor, followed by a special election for the remaining two years of Senator Hutchison’s term.  As the disclaimer below makes clear, my recommendation for Governor Perry is to appoint Texas Railroad Commissioner Michael Williams for the position, on the grounds that Williams is a). a solid conservative; b). prepared (thanks to his role as Railroad Commissioner*) to be a powerful voice on energy policy; and c). actively running for the spot.  Oh, and d). he’ll be talking at the RS Gathering. 

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Glenn Reynolds has a great video interview with Gov. Rick Perry. Check it out here.

They actually get into the question of why Texas does not suck like California and Michigan. Awesome and true.

Check it out. And consider this an open thread.

Per my post below, the Perry Campaign has set up a Kimbia widget to contribute to his campaign. I highly encourage you to do so. Just as an editorial note, in this and all other cases, RedState is not raising the money. I’m recommending you support Rick Perry and the form below is processed by his campaign via the power of the internets.

A lot of people like Rick Perry, but not all those people think he deserves re-election as Governor of Texas, a position he has held for going on ten years. He is being challenged in the GOP primary by Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison, not because she has new ideas, but because she thinks it is her turn.

And that’s part of Perry’s problem. He has been at it for about a decade, ever since George W. Bush left for the White House. But it is also to his advantage. In an interview with Perry over the weekend, he said, “The ten years argument doesn’t hold water. If a company has been going strong for ten years, the shareholders don’t toss out the CEO.” He’s right and were he a CEO his management style could be viewed positively — 1000 people a day are moving to Texas for low taxes, jobs, and growth.

In fact, in a down economy overall, the Lone Star State still shines bright.

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This just in from Politico’s Andy Barr:

Hoping to recapture the grassroots energy of last month’s “tea parties,” Republican Govs. Mark Sanford of South Carolina and Rick Perry of Texas will host a tele-town hall Thursday that’s being dubbed “Tea Party 2.0.”

The Republican Governors Association said it is expecting 30,000 people to participate in the town hall, which will take place roughly one month after the much-publicized anti-tax tea party rallies held in hundreds of locations across the country on April 15, the tax filing deadline.

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Promoted by Erick. See also Justleavemealone’s post.

Texas tells D.C. to BACK OFF!

The Republic of Texas, lead by Governor Rick Perry, is drawing a line in the sand via HCR 50.  HCR 50 reaffirms the sovereignty of Texas and rights of states under the 10th amendment.  HCR 50 tells D.C. that their unbridled infringement on states and individual rights will no longer be tolerated, at least in Texas.

From Office of Texas Governor Rick Perry:

“I believe that our federal government has become oppressive in its size, its intrusion into the lives of our citizens, and its interference with the affairs of our state,” Gov. Perry said. “That is why I am here today to express my unwavering support for efforts all across our country to reaffirm the states’ rights affirmed by the Tenth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. I believe that returning to the letter and spirit of the U.S. Constitution and its essential 10th Amendment will free our state from undue regulations, and ultimately strengthen our Union.”

A number of recent federal proposals are not within the scope of the federal government’s constitutionally designated powers and impede the states’ right to govern themselves. HCR 50 affirms that Texas claims sovereignty under the 10th Amendment over all powers not otherwise granted to the federal government.

Read the full text of the resolution here.

God bless the Republic of Texas!

God help us!

-Crippy’s World

Lone Star Times reports that U.S. Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison’s website has posted a copy of a Texarkana Gazette editorial mocking Gov. Rick Perry for having received Sarah Palin’s endorsement:

Palin has a certain cachet among conservatives. … But Lord, have mercy, she is an outsider with an opinion about Texas politics and government. And she sounds like the Yankee she is, if we use the definition that Yankees come from north of the Red River.

If Perry relies too heavily on Palin, he may find himself with a lot of time to watch Russians from her front porch come January 2011.

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The Texas Republican gubernatorial primary race has just gotten more interesting. The Dallas Morning News is reporting that Sarah Palin has endorsed Texas Governor Rick Perry for reelection. According to Wayne Slater, who wrote the Morning News story, Gov. Perry’s campaign is using the Palin endorsement to try to peel away conservative support among women for Sen. Kay Baily Hutchison, Perry’s main opponent in the GOP primary contest.

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